Softball Falls to SMC in WISL Championship Game

LOS ANGELES -
Junior pitcher Deanna Rodriguez threw a complete game shutout for her third straight win as Santa Clara upset top-seeded Loyola Marymount 1-0 for a chance at the Western Independent Softball League title. The Broncos fell to Saint Mary's 3-2 in extra innings to place second in the tournament. Both games were held at LMU Field this afternoon.

For her efforts, Rodriguez, along with sophomore designated hitter Coresta Salas, earned WISL All-Tournament Team honors.

Rodriguez allowed just four hits in her third win of the tournament. The Broncos scored the game-winning run in the top of the sixth when sophomore designated hitter Coresta Salas--who finished the game 2-for-2--scored on Rodriguez's double.

By upsetting the Lions (37-22), Santa Clara, seeded fourth, earned a spot in the championship game against third seed Saint Mary's. The Gaels were 6-3 winners over San Diego (22-35) in the other semifinal, an eight-inning contest.

Saint Mary's (29-34) went on to a 3-2 win in extra innings over the Broncos (17-40) to claim the WISL Championship.

Saint Mary's took a 1-0 lead in the fourth when left fielder Jennifer Fawkes opened the inning with a double. She scored on a Bronco throwing error. SCU evened the game in the top of the sixth inning when freshman second baseman Lauren Fissori's single scored Salas.

With the game in extra innings, Santa Clara scored sophomore shortstop Tracie Hall from second on freshman third baseman Vanessa Werner's single. Werner finished the game 2-for-4. But the Gael's struck right back and loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the eighth. Center fielder Talaya Turner scored to tie the game at two, and Fawkes scored on short stop Holly Ferreira's sacrifice fly for the WISL title.

The Broncos end their season with the most wins (17) in three seasons, since the 1998 squad posted 19.